We were lucky to catch up with Tiara Cole recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiara, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?

Like most people, I thought that it went without saying that if no one else supports me, family and friends will. And while some do – I’ve certainly learned to accept that sometimes the biggest supporters will turn out to be complete strangers. I used to put a lot of thought and emotion into paying attention to which friends and family seemed to completely ignore my content by not liking, sharing, and commenting. Then, one day I got tired of throwing pity parties for myself and decided that regardless of who engages with me, I’m still going to put content out. My why is more important than worrying about who is and isn’t supporting me. That time could be well spent building a real community of like-minded people that will always support me.

The truth is, friends and family might not be totally interested in what it is you’re doing, and that’s totally fine. It’s much more rewarding and validating to find your tribe organically.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a content creator and blogger in the fashion and home decor space. I got into this industry by being inspired by the women who came before me and made a living by simply being themselves and sharing bits and pieces of their lives. For me, that started by creating my blog www.tiaralcole.com in 2017. Ironically, this was kind of the shifting period when Instagram became a big platform for bloggers to become “content creators”.

The service that I provide to my audience is inspiration and vulnerability. I had major reconstructive foot surgery as a kid which forced me to think about my shoes and what I wear in a very intentional way where comfort is the priority. So, I share comfortable and chic ways to dress and decorate your home with my audience. I recommend specific products from brands that I admire for my audience to try for themselves.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I am still building my journey on social media, but here are the things that I’ve learned so far:

1. Don’t get caught up in trying to figure the algorithm. It’s just bad for your mental health. The algorithms change often and no one truly knows when or why.
2. Be yourself. Regardless of trends and the algorithm, people will find and appreciate what they like. Just create dope content.
3. Make your content shareable. Before posting, ask yourself “Could this help someone else or does it apply to just me?”
4. Get out of comparison mode. There are going to be creators and peers who grow faster than you and it will be hard to not compare. Don’t let it discourage you. Remember your why and tend to the people who are still there to watch and engage in your journey.
5. Create an email list. If you’re looking to build community, make sure you’ll always have access to your followers in case one day social media shuts down. Remember, we don’t own these platforms.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had known the importance of hiring or having help. You can’t get to where you want to be alone. We all need help and it’s going to save a ton of time and failures if people know that right away. It’s one of the things that lots of successful people don’t share.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tiaralcole.com
• Instagram: @tiaralcole
• Facebook: Tiara L. Cole
• Linkedin: Tiara L. Cole
• Youtube: Tiara L. Cole